While the nation watched in horror, the city of Mumbai reeled under the terror strikes of 26/11.

Images of fire brigades, ambulances, NSG commandos and the police force flashed across every television set in the country, but even as we watched the extensive coverage, there were things we missed. What went on inside the buildings under siege is something only the hostages and the armed forces can tell us.

As we spoke to members of the NSG, it became clear that victims sometimes hamper their own chances of survival, rather than increasing them. Captain AK Singh was one of several commandos who risked their lives battling terrorists at the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai during the siege of 26/11. in the following pages, he discusses how civilians can up their chances of escaping unhurt from such life-threatening situations.